Цветы для Элджернона

           Iwantedtoseethem,butwithoutbeingtoldIknewtheyweregoneanddeadandthatstrangerslivedupstairs.Thatpathwasnowclosedtomeforever.

           Attheendofthehallway,thedoorthroughwhichRosehadfledwaslocked,andforamomentIstood—undecided.

           "Openthedoor."

           Theanswerwasthehigh-pitchedyappingofasmalldog.Ittookmebysurprise.

           "Allright,"Isaid."Idon’tintendtohurtyouorany­thing,butI’vecomealongway,andI’mnotleavingwith­outtalkingtoyou.Ifyoudon’topenthedoor,I’mgoingtobreakitdown."

           Iheardhersaying:"Shhhh,Nappie...Here,intothebedroomyougo."AmomentlaterIheardtheclickofthelock.Thedooropenedandshestoodtherestaringatme.

           "Ma,"Iwhispered,"I’mnotgoingtodoanything.Ijustwanttotalktoyou.You’vegottounderstand,I’mnotthesameasIwas.I’vechanged.I’mnormalnow.Don’tyouunderstand?I’mnotretardedanymore.I’mnotamoron.I’mjustlikeanyoneelse.I’mnormal—justlikeyouandMattandNorma."

           Itriedtokeeptalking,babblingsoshewouldn’tclosethedoor.Itriedtotellherthewholething,allatonce."Theychangedme,performedanoperationonmeandmademedifferent,thewayyoualwayswantedmetobe.Didn’tyoureadaboutitinthenewspapers?Anewscien­tificexperimentthatchangesyourcapacityforintelli­gence,andI’mthefirstonetheytriediton.Can’tyouunderstand?Whyareyoulookingatmethatway?I’msmartnow,smarterthanNorma,orUncleHerman,orMatt.